Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-20
nlace -himself between mar ann.

place himself between her anu u.
that man TO whom he was bound by the ties
of common danger and comradeship, whom
he loved with a love passing that of women,
and who was now chained down forever to
his chair. What should he do! How escape!
After long struggle with himself he de-
cided TO 60. Il will see Julia" said he, sand
have an explanation. She will understand
that there must be nothing more between us,
not even smile, a look, a clasp of the hand
Wrong as we were before, now il would be a
million fold more horrible"
So he went TO see Lucien. Noirville was in
his room, and it was Julia who came to meet
him. She sprung forward, her hands OK
tended. Almost year had passed since she
had seen him. Her beauty was even greater,
more dazzling than before, prouder and more
imperious. But she loved Roger, and she
grew soft and womanly in his presence.
Roger bowed in respectful silence, not even
Offering his hand.
"Rogerl Rogerr she said. @How much
have thought of you. How much have
suffered"
She checked herself suddenly at the express
sion of unutterable horror depicted on his
face. Then he spoke:
"Julia, we must bury the past, and may God
pardon us. am the friend, the brother of
Lucien. Do you understands"
And while she shrunk back suppressing her
hearts cry for its breaking agony, he went in
to Lucien. He was lying on n lounge, pale,
thin, unrecognizabe and almost without
breath. His beard had grown Two wooden
legs had been adapted to his rnaimed limbs
When lie saw Roger his face lighted up, and
his eyes filed with tears, and the men en-
braced with full hearts.
SIN what state you find me, Roger" said
Lucien, showing his wooden legs. "Dr
Champeaux told me all, and without you
should not be here TO day, but after all what
poor service it was" Ho sighed heavily,
then said; "But / am very ungratefuL If
had died what would have become of Julia
and my childrenl Alive even il / cannot
plead longer, l can at least have an office for
consultation, and thus assure them their
bread"
When Roger, seeing how weak he was,
wished to retire, Lucien opposed and babe a
servant call his wife, and she came.
"Here is Roger Laroque, whom we have met
as friends before the war. / saved his life;
he saved mine. | love him like brother
Our families from henceforth, hope, win be
but one" Julia bowed without answering
When Roger left sho accompanied him, and
at the moment lie was about to open the outer
door she seized his arm with an IRON grasp.
$50" she said, "you have not one word for
meg
He pointed silently toward the room where
Lucien lay, then said
an the name of pity, il not love FOR him,
hush"
But Julia seemed insane. Her anger grew
beyond bounds.
cit is finished between us, then; all ended,
foreverl'
Roger, scarcely able to articulato, wis
pered hoarsely:
"If knew some means OF effacing, even at
tic most cruel sacriace, the awful remem-
brance Of what exists between US / would
take it at the cost Of my life!"
@Roger Rogerl"
@But," no Continued, with profound sad
ness, "your duty is traced clearly, Julia
Lacien, mutilated, isolated, needs all your
devotion, and so your fault win have been, in
time, expiated For me, / do not know how
to expiate mine, and must bear its weight
my whole life through y